Give Masses Cause To Use Mass Transit

March 24, 2002

Approximately a year ago Broward County Transit promised a new and more passenger-friendly service. Their repeat customers, us regular Joes who depend on the system to get us to and from work every day, were told we would have more dependable, that is -- reliable -- service. Of course, this has not happened. Nothing has changed.

The buses still run late (over 15 minutes, more than 35 percent of the time) during the hours that we use the system. I am referring to the morning get-to-work hours and the afternoon get-home-from-work hours.

Traffic cannot be an issue. The more people who end up using mass transit, the less congestion there will be. However, as long as things are as they are -- buses running late; soiled seats; food containers and beverage cans (both alcoholic and of the soda variety) distributed dangerously about the floor; the attitude of many of the drivers; buses breaking down on a regular basis; route schedulers, who must do their plotting of routes and times between midnight and 3 a.m. -- traffic problems will continue.